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Freshman
 
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Last Login: 10/5/2008 4:19:09 PM
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| I believe this is thier fourth straight conference title. Shot -8 as a team the last round to come from behind. Job well done by Coach Blasi.
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Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/8/2008 9:58:09 PM
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This was their 3rd Championship in a row. Congrats to Men's Golf. Now on to the NCAA Regionals!!
Three-peat!!
'Necks win third title in a row, Peterman earns Athlete of the Year honors!!
The Western Illinois men's golf team won its third straight Summit League title led by junior Kyle Peterman, who captured the individual championship after winning a playoff match to break a tie for first.
After 54 holes of competition, Peterman and Southern Utah's Nate Page sat tied at an even par (216). Peterman fired a final round of 68 (-4) to move up nine spots, while Page carded a 69 (-3) and jumped up seven positions to create the tie atop the leader board.
In the playoff, the junior transfer birdied hole 9 for the second time in less than an hour to capture the Summit League Championship individual title.
"I was a little nervous, but just had trust in myself because I had been playing good all day," Peterman said of the playoff. "I stuck with my routine, stayed in the moment and believed in myself. It was a storybook ending and great having (my teammates) out on the hole with me for the ending."
After entering the day three shots back of leader UMKC, the Leathernecks shot eight-under par as a team on the final round to storm back and capture their third-straight conference title.
"I was a little concerned that we weren't in the lead going into today," said coach Mel Blasi. "With the weather, there was the chance that today was going to be canceled, and we wanted to try to get in the lead yesterday. We got within three strokes but weren't there. I felt good, though, just being down three shots on our home course, and we've played well here this year.
"I thought we probably had a good round coming somewhere in there."
On the final day of competition, Western got an unexpected boost out of its No. 5 spot. Junior Austin Lambert shot a career-best 68 (-4) to match Peterman, and move himself up nine spots in the individual standings to a tie for 18th, with a 10-stroke improvement in Round 3. Lambert finished the championships at 223 (77-78-68).
"Today Austin really picked us up," Blasi said. "To shoot a 68 from the five spot was just a terrific boost."
Junior Jared Steger used a pair of birdies on the final nine to finish the day at one-over, overcoming a single and double bogey on his first nine. His tournament total wrapped up at 218 (70-75-73) and earned him a share of fourth place.
Like Lambert, junior Jason Woll saved his best round for the final day. His 71 (-1) gave Western three individual rounds under par on the day. He finished Tuesday in a tie for ninth place after shooting 220 (75-74-71).
"Having Kyle and Jason under par as well was just huge," Blasi said. "I knew we were capable of shooting this kind of score, but to shoot it in the last round is pretty special."
Junior Brian Scott was a mere two strokes out of a Top 10 finish. His three-round total of 222 (73-75-74) gave him a share of 13th place.
"Coach told us to play with a purpose, and we basically went out and played for each other," Peterman said. "The whole year has been leading up to conference, and we knew what we had to do today."
Peterman and Steger collected Summit League First-Team honors, and Woll was named to the Second Team. Blasi took home his fourth Coach of the Year award. It was the fourth such honor for him, which moves him ahead of legendary coach Harry Mussatto on the all-time list at Western.
"It always feels good when you win," Blasi said of the victory. "This year I don't think anyone really expected us to win. I knew we would be good, but I just didn't know that we had enough to be champions this year. To shoot an eight-under in the final round is just incredible."
The title marked the third consecutive, and fourth in the last five seasons for the Leathernecks.
"Three years ago, I was really concerned with how everyone else was doing and kept relaying information to the guys on what was going on with scores," Blasi said. "We talked before the tournament this year and decided that we were just going to go play the course and have it be like we were in practice. It's tough to do that because it's such a nerve-racking experience to play in a championship. I was just glad to see that we played our best and it was good enough."
Western now awaits its placement for the NCAA Tournament. Regional play takes place May 15-17.
Go Leathernecks !!
Go Westerwinds !!
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